A heat treatment system, comprises a tray holder with at least one tray for placing goods to be heated, a first heat treatment machine having a first heat treatment chamber adapted to accommodate the tray holder, the first heat treatment chamber having a first opening in a base part thereof, and an elevation apparatus configured to transport the tray holder between a first position within the first heat treatment chamber and a second position below the first heat treatment chamber through the first opening.

Ovens and methods for preparing food. An oven includes a cabinet and an oven chamber in the cabinet. A fan is provided for moving gas in the oven. The oven can include a fan scroll housing having multiple fan discharge ducts defining respective gas flow paths from the fan. The oven can include a turning vane configured for turning gas flow and for heating the gas flow.

Ovens and methods for preparing food. An oven includes a cabinet and an oven chamber in the cabinet. A fan is provided for moving gas in the oven. The oven can include a fan scroll housing having multiple fan discharge ducts defining respective gas flow paths from the fan. The oven can include a turning vane configured for turning gas flow and for heating the gas flow.

A dough proofing apparatus includes a proofing chamber for holding dough during proofing operations and having a door for accessing the proofing chamber. An air duct assembly includes at least one inlet opening and at least one fan for drawing in air from the proofing chamber. At least one heating element is located within the air duct assembly for heating the air and a flow path for delivering the heated air back to the proofing chamber. A vent chamber is divided into an exhaust side and an intake side, the exhaust side fluidly connected to the air duct assembly, the intake side fluidly connected to the proofing chamber.

A dough proofing apparatus includes a proofing chamber for holding dough during proofing operations and having a door for accessing the proofing chamber. An air duct assembly includes at least one inlet opening and at least one fan for drawing in air from the proofing chamber. At least one heating element is located within the air duct assembly for heating the air and a flow path for delivering the heated air back to the proofing chamber. A vent chamber is divided into an exhaust side and an intake side, the exhaust side fluidly connected to the air duct assembly, the intake side fluidly connected to the proofing chamber.

A product multiplying system or a multiplier may divide a product into a plurality of units and may increase a number of units of the product that may be released into a receptacle. The product multiplying system or a multiplier may increase the number of units of the product by a factor of two and may not jam the products. The product multiplying system or a multiplier may match a rate of cuts per minute of a first divider and a second divider. A first set and a second set of a plurality of diagonal channels may guide the product toward a center discharge guide and toward an outside discharge guide, respectively. Additionally, the product may be divided and rounded prior to being transferred to the multiplier where the product may be dusted.

A package for food products including a first portion, a second portion, and at least one indicator. The first portion has a first closed end, at least one first side wall surrounding the first closed end, and a first open end opposite the first closed end. The second portion has a second closed end, at least one second side wall surrounding said second closed end, and a second open end opposite the second closed end. The first portion and second portion are movably connected at their respective open ends. The at least one indicator is placed in communication with the package such that when the package is expanded to a desired inner volume the indicator is activated. The closed end of either portion may be opened when a desired inner volume of a food product is reached.

A multivariable method for continuously producing bakery products including: producing a first dough phase, applying the first dough phase to a first conveyor belt, inputting the relaxed first dough phase into a second kneading device and producing a second dough phase, applying the second dough phase to a second conveyor belt, transferring the dough strip onto a third conveyor belt, folding the dough strip, inserting the dough strip into a second rolling device, cutting the dough strip into a predetermined number of dough pieces, loading baking molds with the dough pieces, fermenting the dough pieces baking the dough pieces, removing the baked bakery product, and cooling the bakery product, and cooling the baking molds after the baked bakery product has been removed.

A multivariable method for continuously producing bakery products including: producing a first dough phase, applying the first dough phase to a first conveyor belt, inputting the relaxed first dough phase into a second kneading device and producing a second dough phase, applying the second dough phase to a second conveyor belt, transferring the dough strip onto a third conveyor belt, folding the dough strip, inserting the dough strip into a second rolling device, cutting the dough strip into a predetermined number of dough pieces, loading baking molds with the dough pieces, fermenting the dough pieces baking the dough pieces, removing the baked bakery product, and cooling the bakery product, and cooling the baking molds after the baked bakery product has been removed.

The present invention provides a process for the manufacture of a leavened foodstuff, such as a leavened or heat treated leavened foodstuff, and apparatus for the same, wherein in said process an ingredient composition comprising a food structurant, water and a leavening agent is treated with ultrasound from an ultrasound source during at least a part of a leavening step, and/or an ingredient composition comprising a food structurant, water and a leavening agent or a leavened ingredient composition, typically obtained therefrom, is treated with ultrasound from an ultrasound source during at least a part of a heat treating step.